San Jose Sharks complete epic comeback to take series from Vegas
By Andrew Bet
The San Jose Sharks advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a furious third-period rally is completed with an overtime goal by Barclay Goodrow in Game 7 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
For three-straight games, the San Jose Sharks stood at the brink of elimination. With high expectations at the start of the season, one mistake could prove fatal. Down 3-0 in the third period, another season was about to become another disappointment. The odds did not favor the Sharks as the team scoring first has gone on to win the game from the previous six games.
But the switch turned on at a critical moment after a gutless hit by Vegas’ Cody Eakin sent Joe Pavelski to the ice with a gash to his head. Eakin got assessed a significant penalty, allowing the Sharks to turn the tide.
In a matter of four minutes, a struggling Sharks’ power play came to life. Two Goals by Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, and Kevin Labanc sparked an improbable comeback to the delight of fans rocking the Shark Tank.
San Jose Sharks
Shook from the quick strikes, the Golden Knights gained some momentum back with a late power play. With luck being in their favor most of the series, Vegas reluctantly got a lifeline with a tying goal 47 seconds left in regulation.
San Jose controlled game seven from the start, dictating the play and generating better scoring chances. Unfortunately, the scoreboard did not favor the Sharks as the Golden Knights managed to slip tallies into the net.
Not looking to end the season early, the Sharks kept pushing forward in the overtime period. Both teams exchanged ample opportunities to end the contest as both Sharks’ Martin Jones and Golden Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury stood firm between the pipes.
As the first overtime frame was nearing a conclusion, a push by Barclay Goodrow would punctuate a thrilling end to an entertaining match. Goodrow took a feed from Erik Karlsson skating by the Vegas defenseman to slide the puck past the outstretched pad of Fleury and poke check attempt for the game-winner.
Redemption comes for Goodrow after being on the ice for the first two goals scored by Vegas. He did not play much after coach Peter DeBoer opted to shorten the bench. Goodrow made the most his opportunity to become the hero for the Sharks.
Attention turns to the status of Pavelski who did not return after taking the hit from Eakin. Pavelski opened the series by scoring the first goal off his face from a Brent Burns shot. A few teeth were missing which required the captain to wear a protector around the jaw area.
Adversity came in different aspects throughout the first round for the Sharks. After a solid start in Game 1, Jones reverted to the shaky performances seen throughout the regular season. Routine saves got through Jones causing the Sharks to be down early.
A hit by Joe Thornton resulted in a one-game suspension with an explanation by the NHL Player Safety Department lacking merit. A judgment siding in favor of Vegas as the team took advantage of Thornton’s banishment by grabbing a 3-1 series lead.
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Add in the antics of Vegas’ Ryan Reaves who undoubtedly got into the heads of San Jose drawing penalties from his classless play. For a player with a lower hockey IQ than the average player, he messed with the wrong team and is now set to go home with the rest of his teammates.
San Jose appeared to be heading for an early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Sharks seemed lost with no explanation. The concerns entering the postseason came full circle with the leaky goaltending and the weak play by the five players on the ice.
Not looking ahead, the Sharks got back to the elements of success by staving off elimination in Game 5 at home. To force Game 7, a win in Vegas was a daunting task as the Sharks had little success in Sin City.
Hertl, the standout from the series, gave hope after his shorthanded goal in double overtime forced a decisive Game 7 back in San Jose. His goal swung the momentum back in favor of the Sharks with a chance to advance to the next round.
No matter the deficit or the time on the clock, anything can happen in an instant to cause the improbable. A four-minute span saw four unanswered goals by the Sharks turn into one of greatest playoff moments in the history of the franchise.
Parity runs wild as the Sharks are now the top seed in the Western Conference playoff picture. The Colorado Avalanche are up next after disposing of the Calgary Flames in five games. Game 1 of the series begins in San Jose on Friday.
Next. Sharks Force Game 7 With Thrilling Road Win. dark
In a Stanley Cup or bust campaign, the Sharks clear a significant hurdle after an emotional series against a now bitter rival in the Golden Knights. The Sharks managed to avoid the playoff underachievers label and now have a legitimate chance to make a run.